Microsoft Reveals These Nifty Tricks Up Its Sleeve

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) is said to be shifting its focus on content deals this year to include new TV packages and offerings, in addition to a new music program and photo-sharing platform. The computer giant is offering a slew of new services currently in the works, which include a new Zune replacement music program and a partnership with photo-sharing platform EyeEm to rival Facebook’s recently-acquired Instagram.

Microsoft will reveal its Zune replacement during E3 2012. The new music service, dubbed Woodstock, will continue Microsoft’s drift away from the Zune brand toward the well-known Xbox one. Woodstock is said to be a cross-platform player that will also be available on Windows 8, Google’s (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android, Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS, playable from a browser.

The service has been previously described as a similar experience to Spotify’s platform. Woodstock is expected to integrate deeply with Facebook and allow friends to build group playlists and share tracks, but the service will not require browser plugins. The service will offer a “scan and match” function that is similar to iTunes Match. The function is still in the experimental phase, but should ultimately allow users to identify their existing music collection in the service. Woodstock is not expected to launch until later this year alongside Windows 8.

Microsoft is said to be shifting its focus on content deals this year, including new TV packages and offerings. It is no secret that Microsoft has already begun to shift to Xbox Music and Video services in its upcoming Window 8 operating system. Woodstock will certainly expand Microsoft’s services to rival platforms.

Microsoft has also caught the eye of photo-sharer EyeEm, looking to battle Instagram on a new platform. On Wednesday, EyeEm revealed its Windows Phone app. The photo-sharer announced that its services will also be available on iOS, Android, Windows Phones, and the Web.

Instagram does not have a Windows Phone app yet. However, based on Microsoft’s aggressive advances in the industry, it is only a matter of time before other services show their interest in the computer giant.